PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYCRYSTALLINE LEAD-EXCHANGED SODIUM BETA-ALUMINA AND ITS USE AS A PB2-CONDUCTING ELECTROLYTE FOR GALVANIC CELLS( ION)

Sodium in Na(+)beta ''-alumina was partially exchanged with lead by io n exchange between polycrystalline Na(+)beta ''-alumina and a molten s alt mixture containing lead cations. Examination of the exchanged mate rial showed that it was free of cracks and porosity and that the lead was uniformly distributed. The bulk conductivity of the exchanged mate rial was measured using molten lead electrodes and a two-probe alterna ting current technique. The electrochemical behavior of lead ions in t he material was investigated using a concentration cell of the type W, Pb (1) \ Pb-partially-exchanged Na(+)beta ''-alumina \ Pb-Bi (1), W I t was found that the lead ion behaved as Pb2+, and its mobility was hi gh in the exchanged Na(+)beta ''-alumina over the range 723 to 1098 K. It is concluded that the prepared Pb2+-Na(+)beta ''-alumina could be used as Pb2+ ion-conducting solid electrolytes in galvanic cells for t hermodynamic measurements on Pb-containing and Na-free metallic melts or Pb2+-containing and Na+-free slags or mattes.